VOLUNTEER, INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3751, 18 November 1873, Page 3

VOLUNTEER, INTELLIGENCE.

MAuji.tr.—The usual monthly Government inspection parade of the Forest Rifle Volunteer Corps took place on the parade ground outside the Volunteer Hall, Patumahoe. There was a fair muster of all ranks, under the command of their captain, the major commanding the district. The men presented a fair appearance in regard to uniform, about half of them being in the new dress of scarlet, which has quite a soldierlike appearance. The band was also present, and played in the hall under the leadership of Sergeant Chilman. After the Major had made a most rigid inspection of the arms and accoutrements of the men, he informed them that it had been notified to him that Major Gordon had been appointed inspector for the current year, and that he would most likely be round some time about March, and further that His Excellency the Governor, Sir James Fergusson, had also signified his intention of personally inspecting the Volunteer Corps. He would • therefore impress upon every Volunteer the absolute necessity of attending. to tho company drills, and to try to render himßelf efficient in every sense of the word. There was another thing he was sorry to observe amongst them, and that was talking in the ranks ; that he hoped they would discontinue, as when talking in the ranks they could not be paying the required attention to the instruction of the drill sergeant. The Band also wanted a word. He was sorry to see that some of them were on parade without instruments. He would inform them that any "Volunteer or bandsman not having his arms or instrument with him, his attendance would not count a parade. At the close of the drill Sergeant Mercer moved that as the drill would be very convenient to the Christmas holidays, tho monthly inspection should take place on Christmas morning instead of on the third Saturday. This, however, was overruled by Sergeant Chilman. who affirmed that Christmas Day was one on which no arm of Her Majesty's forces was drilled, and therefore it would be entirely contrary to all regulations, and apart from that it was in every sense of the word a day solely unfitted for' anything save a Church parade, which could not be counted a Government monthly inspection parade according to the meaning of the Act, which clearly states the men must be drilled for a space of two hours.